EP2066573A2 - Accumulateur de produits rotatif - Google Patents

Accumulateur de produits rotatif

Info

Publication number
EP2066573A2
EP2066573A2 EP07841959A EP07841959A EP2066573A2 EP 2066573 A2 EP2066573 A2 EP 2066573A2 EP 07841959 A EP07841959 A EP 07841959A EP 07841959 A EP07841959 A EP 07841959A EP 2066573 A2 EP2066573 A2 EP 2066573A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
conveyor
parts
accumulator
motor
assembly
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP07841959A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Arthur K. Jones
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Curran Manufacturing Corp
Original Assignee
Curran Manufacturing Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Curran Manufacturing Corp filed Critical Curran Manufacturing Corp
Publication of EP2066573A2 publication Critical patent/EP2066573A2/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
    • B23Q7/00—Arrangements for handling work specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, machine tools, e.g. for conveying, loading, positioning, discharging, sorting
    • B23Q7/008—Catching devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G29/00—Rotary conveyors, e.g. rotating discs, arms, star-wheels or cones
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G37/00—Combinations of mechanical conveyors of the same kind, or of different kinds, of interest apart from their application in particular machines or use in particular manufacturing processes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/34—Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyor 
    • B65G47/46—Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyor  and distributing, e.g. automatically, to desired points
    • B65G47/51—Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyor  and distributing, e.g. automatically, to desired points according to unprogrammed signals, e.g. influenced by supply situation at destination
    • B65G47/5104—Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyor  and distributing, e.g. automatically, to desired points according to unprogrammed signals, e.g. influenced by supply situation at destination for articles
    • B65G47/519—Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyor  and distributing, e.g. automatically, to desired points according to unprogrammed signals, e.g. influenced by supply situation at destination for articles collecting tables or bins as end-station
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T82/00—Turning
    • Y10T82/25—Lathe
    • Y10T82/2514—Lathe with work feeder or remover

Definitions

  • This invention is in the general field of production lines, particularly apparatus that catches and stores parts on such lines.
  • Parts catchers or parts accumulators collect parts from production lines.
  • the parts arc finished parts produced by feeding raw material, such as material in bar form, to a lathe.
  • the lathe machines the raw material, shaping and culling oft' a complete, or near complete part, which is then stored in the parts catcher.
  • the parts catcher is simply a bucket on some type of movable arm that can extend at the proper time via the machine control so as to catch the work piece to be stored.
  • the parts catcher retracts and deposits the work piece through an opening in the machine guarding cither into a collection box on the front of the machine, or onto a straight conveyor, typically 3-4 feet in length. Then the machine can continue making the next piece.
  • Some parts catchers have very limited storage space, and hence they provide only a short amount of unmanned runtime, and/or they present a strong possibility of damaging the finished parts as they bang together. Such limitations presented by the parts catcher undermine one of the significant advantages ofbar feeding - extended periods of unmanned run time.
  • Parts accumulators can be large and the space they occupy can interfere with efficiency.
  • the invention generally features a stand-alone parts accumulator that can be retrofit as a unitary add-on to an existing production line.
  • the parts accumulator includes: (a) a generally linear conveyor; (b) a rotary table comprising a spiral barrier guide defining a path from an outer region of the table to an inner region of the table; (c) a connector attaching the linear co ⁇ vcyor to the rotary table; (d) a motor connected to rotate the rotary table; (e) an adjustable controller connected to the motor to control rotation of the table.
  • the controller may be independently powered.
  • a second motor may be connected to more the generally linear conveyor.
  • ⁇ weir e.g., a stationary bar extending over the table with arms extending from the bar into the path
  • a bracket supports the generally linear conveyor to attach it to the rotary table.
  • a second aspect of the invention which can be combined with the first aspect or employed independently, features a reversible bracket mounting the conveyor.
  • the same bracket can be used for either left-hand or right-hand installations, and there is no need to disassemble (reconfigure) the drive when switching between left hand and right hand drive; nor is there any need to reconfigure the drive or to reverse the motor when switching between left hand and right hand drive.
  • the bracket is positioned substantially within the periphery of the conveyor, so it does not obstruct access to the conveyor when the conveyor is not being used. When combined with the above-described rotary accumulator, the assembly presents a compact package.
  • ⁇ third aspect of the invention which also can be used alone or combined with any one or more of the other aspects, features positioning the conveyor motor within the "footprint" of the conveyor, meaning that the motor does not increase the effective width of the overall device.
  • the advantages of this include: a) better weight balance, reducing the degree of support required for the conveyor and therefore the complexity of the conveyor mounting; b) improved belt life by use of a belt drive that pulls the belt rather than pushing it; c) improved ability to use the conveyor in tight spaces, by removal of obstructions from the working end of the conveyor; and d) improved access to machine components such as foot pedals and oil fill points.
  • the invention thus permits the use of a separate motor to drive the conveyor without a substantial sacrifice of convenience or access to the conveyor, and without substantially increasing the footprint of the entire assembly.
  • the conveyor width is between about 2" and 8".
  • the amount of dead space on each side is 1 inch or less. This feature also makes access to the machine easier.
  • FIG 1 is a perspective view of a rotary (spiral) accumulator according to the invention.
  • FlG 2 is a perspective view of a rotary (spiral) accumulator with sections cut away to show additional features.
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 respectively are views of the same conveyor mounting bracket, showing that it can be used in both left- and right-hand configurations.
  • FIG 5 is a view of a motor mounted for operation with a conveyor belt
  • FIG 6 is a view of the conveyor belt and motor assembled with the product accumulator.
  • rotary accumulator 10 includes a linear conveyor 12, supported at the front end by stand 14. At the other end, the conveyor is attached by bracket 16 to a rotary table 18. A ramp 17 provides a connecting path for parts to travel from conveyor 12 onto table 18.
  • Table 18 includes a spiral wall 22 forming a path 24 on the top of rotary table 18 in which parts can accumulate in a relatively compact area.
  • Weir 26 includes triangular arms 28 extending downwardly into path 24 to control the movement of parts along path 24.
  • a controller 30 includes a connection for power and electronic controls for motor 32 which is connected to rotate table 18. The electronic controls manually control the speed at which table 18 rotates. Controller 30 also controls motor 33 which drives linear conveyor 12 so thai the speed of conveyor 12 matches the speed at which table 18 rotates. An adjustable timer in controller 30 is set to match the machine tools cycle time. Conveyor 12 is an integral part or the accumulator 10, simplifying the installation of the accumulator onto the production line. In operation, a production line (e.g. having a lathe), deposits parts on linear conveyor 12. Driven by motor 33, conveyor 12 moves the parts to ramp 17 and then onto table 18.
  • a production line e.g. having a lathe
  • the speed of rotation of table 18 and the speed of conveyor 12 are controlled by controller 30, so that parts are accumulated in the spiral path on table 18 at a desired rate.
  • the weir 26 is stationary.
  • arms 28 contact the parts and move them toward the center of the spiral in an orderly way, with the parts added earlier being located at the center of the spiral and the later added parts being located at the periphery.
  • accumulator 10 is emptied for the next machine tool cycle.
  • Figs 3 and 4 show a conveyor-mounting bracket having 40 three parts: a support 42 connecting a slanted plate 44 to a conveyor mounting cradle 46.
  • the same parts arc used in both Figs 3 and 4.
  • the only difference between the figures is that cradle 46 has been moved from one side to the other. In that way, the bracket holds the conveyor either in a left-hand configuration (Fig.3) or a right-hand configuration (Fig. 4). To switch between these configurations, it is only necessary to remove bolts holding the cradle 46 to support 42 and to then move the cradle to the other side of support 42.
  • motor 48 is mounted to a plate 50 attached to a bridge 52 over the conveyor 54. Motor 48 does not extend beyond the footprint of conveyor 54 , so it does not expand the footprint of the conveyor/motor assembly.
  • the accumulator is not shown.
  • Fig. 6 is a view of the entire assembly: the conveyor; the motor and controller; and the accumulator.
  • the overall width of the conveyor is relatively narrow and its footprint is not substantially increased by the motor, enabling the operator to have easy access to the conveyor and motor. Even with the parts accumulator added, access to critical areas around the assembly are generally unobstructed.
  • Drive roller 56 is inboard (past) motor 48.
  • the motor pulls the conveyor rather than pushes it, which is generally a more efficient design as it reduces the tendency for the conveyor belt to buckle when parts of significant weight arc being conveyed.
  • the invention achieves this design while remaining compact.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Automatic Assembly (AREA)
  • Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un accumulateur de pièces autonome qui peut être installé en tant qu'élément supplémentaire unitaire dans une ligne de fabrication existante. L'accumulateur de pièces comprend : (a) a convoyeur généralement linéaire ; (b) une table rotative comprenant un guide d'arrêt en spirale définissant une trajectoire d'une région externe de la table vers une région interne de la table ; (c) un connecteur fixant le convoyeur linéaire à la table rotative ; (d) un moteur raccordé afin de mettre en rotation la table rotative ; (e) un dispositif de commande réglable raccordé au moteur afin de commander la rotation de la table. Un seul support peut être utilisé pour supporter le convoyeur dans une configuration à gauche ou à droite. Le moteur du convoyeur est positionné sensiblement à l'intérieur de l'espace occupé au sol par le convoyeur. Le convoyeur est étroit (entre environ 5 cm (2 pouces) et environ 20 cm (8 pouces)).
EP07841959A 2006-09-06 2007-09-06 Accumulateur de produits rotatif Withdrawn EP2066573A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US84250106P 2006-09-06 2006-09-06
PCT/US2007/077729 WO2008030937A2 (fr) 2006-09-06 2007-09-06 Accumulateur de produits rotatif

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2066573A2 true EP2066573A2 (fr) 2009-06-10

Family

ID=39158036

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP07841959A Withdrawn EP2066573A2 (fr) 2006-09-06 2007-09-06 Accumulateur de produits rotatif

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US7757837B2 (fr)
EP (1) EP2066573A2 (fr)
JP (1) JP2010502536A (fr)
KR (1) KR20090085575A (fr)
AU (1) AU2007292264A1 (fr)
BR (1) BRPI0716883A2 (fr)
CA (1) CA2662861A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2008030937A2 (fr)

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US20090254214A1 (en) * 2008-04-03 2009-10-08 Scriptpro Llc Vial dispensing mechanism
AU2009235831B2 (en) * 2008-04-11 2015-01-22 Anker Andersen A/S An apparatus and method for feeding used objects
CN101862974B (zh) * 2010-05-26 2014-07-23 梁呈旺 一种机床的工件输送装置
CN103523472B (zh) * 2013-10-30 2015-08-26 陈继文 一种散热器智能输送装置
CN103640384A (zh) * 2013-11-25 2014-03-19 张家港市港区电子镀膜有限公司 电子连接器接插件端子打字机的送料装置
DE102015117669A1 (de) 2015-10-16 2017-04-20 Finatec Holding Ag Zwischenspeichereinrichtung und Verfahren zur Zwischenspeicherung
CN106430064A (zh) * 2016-10-21 2017-02-22 张家港市万金机械有限公司 一种简易理瓶机
US9982934B1 (en) * 2016-12-22 2018-05-29 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Configurable spiral freezer
US11033840B2 (en) 2017-12-11 2021-06-15 U.M.C., Inc. Part separator cleaning apparatus
CN108438400B (zh) * 2018-03-12 2020-12-29 合肥宇胜信息科技有限公司 一种瓶装产品自动旋转定位装置
CN112027219B (zh) * 2020-08-20 2021-10-01 天马（安徽）国药科技股份有限公司 一种黄芪饮片的制备装置及其制备方法
CN112046846B (zh) * 2020-09-05 2021-09-07 河北泽恒纸塑包装制品有限公司 一种用于蛋糕刀生产线上的蛋糕刀分料装置

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2008030937A2 (fr) 2008-03-13
CA2662861A1 (fr) 2008-03-13
US20080053280A1 (en) 2008-03-06
KR20090085575A (ko) 2009-08-07
AU2007292264A1 (en) 2008-03-13
WO2008030937A3 (fr) 2009-04-09
JP2010502536A (ja) 2010-01-28
US7757837B2 (en) 2010-07-20
BRPI0716883A2 (pt) 2013-10-15

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